NATURE COMPLEX ROPOTAMO

Area Descriptions

The Ropotamo Complex is located 50 km south of Burgas and covers the firth part and the flooded terrace of the Ropotamo river, the natural flooded forests, the sand dunes, the sand strip and the deeply indented coast with rocky capes jutting out into the sea and narrow and deep bays, the island of St. Toma, the marshes of Alepu, Arkutino and Stamopolu, as well as the Ropotamo Reserve. To the south and south-east the complex includes mountain ridges with rocks and deciduous forests. The complex features a great variety of biotopes. A substantial element are the coastal marshes with hygrophyte vegetation, dominated by reed, fern leaf and hardwood cattail, bulrush, etc., as well as hydrophyte vegetation – water lily, European frogbit, bulging duckweed, etc.

Typical of the complex is the Ropotamo River firth with its hygrophyte dense forests of Polish elm, field elm, black alder, hawthorn, with the significant presence of lianas. The deciduous forests are mainly of oak with mediterranean elements or mixed with Holm oak, Virgilianoak and others.

The coastal strip is covered by dunes with psammophytic vegetation, mainly European beach grass, sea daffodil, etc. In some places the shore is rocky with niches, underwater caves and sea inlets.

In recent years, 236 bird species have been observed in Ropotamo area, 69 of which are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The area provides a suitable habitat for 87 species included in Appendix 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which require special protection measures.

Ropotamo Complex is one of the most important place in the country as a breeding site for a group of species strongly attached to the various types of habitats in the complex – the Mediterranean shearwater, the spotted crake, the little crake, the purple heron, the squacco heron and the semi-collared flycatcher.

It is one of the three places along the Black Sea Coast where there are nests of white-tailed eagle. Ten globally endangered species have been established here during the breeding season, migration or wintering – Pygmy Cormorant, Dalmatian Pelican, Marbled Duck, Ferruginous Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Pallid Harier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel and Corncrake.

The role of the complex as a stopping station during the migration of birds and as a typical bottleneck migration site mainly for the white stork, the common buzzard and some other birds of prey is also considerable. In winter the Ropotamo Complex hosts significant numbers of wintering birds such as the black-throated diver, pochard, red-crested pochard and gadwall.

A part of the complex has the status of a strict reserve and any human activities are forbidden in it. In the buffer zone of the reserve and in the unprotected areas forestry activities such as hunting, fishing, transportation, recreation and tourism are carried out.

The main problems facing Ropotamo complex are associated with construction and changes in the water regime due to water usage in the upstream catchment area ofRopotamo river and the eutrophication of marshes. To the north the complex borders on a large seaside resort – Dunes and to the south – Primorsko, which is now a large tourist center. Tree felling in forests and hunting are also factors contributing to the disturbance of birds. Particularly threatening for the migratory birds are the plans to build wind farms. They would hinder the free movement of birds and will lead to the fragmentation of habitats for migratory and wintering birds. Wind turbines will be a barrier for thousands of soaring migratory birds and birds migrating at night on their way south and north. They will cause their death and will reduce their populations.